The Republic of India shares borders with several sovereign countries; it shares land borders with China, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. [1] Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Pakistan share both land borders as well as maritime borders, while Sri Lanka shares only a maritime border through Ram Setu. India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia.
India does not have a National Border Policy. For the strategic national interest reasons, there are suggestions that India must define a National Border Policy to comprehensively deal with border related issues, not just the fencing of open borders but also to deal with the negative consequences of porous borders. For example, the India-Nepal border is an open border with no fence, which has been misused by Pakistan's ISI to create trouble in India. [2]
India has constructed fences along the following borders: [3]
India shares land borders with six sovereign nations. The state's Ministry of Home Affairs also recognizes a 106 kilometres (66 mi) land border with a seventh nation, Afghanistan, as part of its claim on the Kashmir region; however, this is disputed and the region bordering Afghanistan has been administered by Pakistan as part of Gilgit-Baltistan since 1947 (see Durand Line). [4]
India co-hosts the joint ceremonies with the neighbouring nations at the following border crossings. The most attended and emotionally charged among these is the one at Wagha-Attari Border near Amritsar-Lahore.
| Border | Ceremony Locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| India-Pakistan border | Attari–Wagah border ceremony near Amritsar in Punjab. [7] [8] | Most attended and emotionally charged ceremony |
| Ganda Singh Wala–Hussainiwala border ceremony near Firozepur in Punjab. [7] [8] | ||
| Sadqi-Sulemanki border ceremony near Fazilka in Punjab. [9] [10] [11] | ||
| Khokhrapar–Munabao border ceremony in Barmer district of Rajasthan. [7] [8] | ||
| India-China border | Daulat Beg Oldi | Border Personnel Meeting Point (BPM Point) |
| Spanggur Gap (Chushul) | Border Personnel Meeting point | |
| Nathu La | Used for pilgrims to monasteries in Sikkim; reduces journey time to Lake Manasarovar [12] | |
| Bum La Pass (Tawang) | Open on Sundays and during cultural ceremonies | |
| Kaho, India (north of Kibithu in Walong sector) | Border Personnel Meeting point | |
| India-Bangladesh border | Benapole–Petrapole border ceremony | Daily joint ceremony by Border Security Force and Border Guards Bangladesh [13] [14] |
Maritime borders of India are the maritime boundary recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea entails boundaries of territorial waters, contiguous zones, and exclusive economic zones. India, with its claim of a 12-nautical-mile (22 km; 14 mi) territorial maritime zone and 200-nautical-mile (370 km; 230 mi) exclusive economic zone, has a more than 7,000-kilometre (4,300 mi) maritime border shared with seven nations.
| Maritime Border Country | Length (km) and (mi) | Force | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bangladesh | Indian Navy | New Moore Island in Bay of Bengal | |
 Indonesia | 555 kilometres (345 mi) | Indian Navy | Indira Point in Andaman Sea |
 Myanmar | Indian Navy | Landfall Island in Andaman Sea | |
 Pakistan | Indian Navy | Sir Creek in Arabian Sea | |
 Thailand | Indian Navy | Similan Islands in Andaman Sea | |
 Sri Lanka | >400 kilometres (250 mi) [15] | Indian Navy | Katchatheevu in Palk Strait |
 Maldives | 1,009 kilometres (627 mi) | Indian Navy | Maliku Kandu in Laccadive Sea |
The map of ICP and LCS.
India has 7 functional ICPs, and plans are underway to upgrade 13 more LCS to ICP, including 7 at borders taking total of border ICP to 14, at the cost of ₹3,005 crore (US$360 million)(56 Australian Dollars as of May 2025)(c. June 2024 ). [16] [17] Designated Integrated Check Posts (ICP), with both customs and immigration facilities are: [18]
| Border | State | Check Post | Status | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India–Bangladesh | Assam | Sutarkandi | Planned | Connects to Golapganj uppozilla in Sylhet District | [16] |
| Meghalaya | Dawki ICP | Operational since 2018 | Connects to Tambil post (Bangladesh) | [19] | |
| Mizoram | Kawrpuichhuah (near Tlabung) | Operational since Oct 2017 | On Khawthalangtuipui river (Karnaphuli) | [16] [20] [21] | |
| Tripura | Agartala–Akhaura | Operational (c. 2017) | Connects to Dhaka | [17] | |
| Belonia–Parshuram | Road and rail crossing | ||||
| West Bengal | Petrapole | Operational (c. 2017) | Connects Kolkata to Dhaka | [17] | |
| Ghojadanga | Planned | [16] [22] | |||
| Mahadipur | In-principle approval (2019) | Connects to Rajshahi | [22] [16] | ||
| Fulbari | Planned | [16] | |||
| Hili | Planned | [16] | |||
| India–Bhutan | West Bengal | Jaigaon | Plan approved (c. 2016) | In Alipurduar district | [23] |
| India–Myanmar | Manipur | Moreh ICP | Operational | [24] | |
| Mizoram | Zochawchhuah–Zorinpui | Operational since Oct 2017 | On Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project | [24] [21] | |
| India–Nepal | Uttarakhand | Banbasa | In-principle approval (2019) | In Champawat district | [22] |
| Bihar | Bhitthamore | In-principle approval (2019) | In Sitamarhi district | [22] [25] | |
| Bihar | Jogbani | [23] | |||
| West Bengal | Panitanki | In-principle approval (2019) | In Darjeeling district | [23] [22] | |
| Bihar | Raxaul | [23] | |||
| Uttar Pradesh | Sonauli | [ citation needed ] | |||
| Uttar Pradesh | Rupaidiha | [23] | |||
| Uttar Pradesh | Taulihawa-Siddharthnagar | [23] | |||
| India–Pakistan | Punjab | Attari | Operational (2017) | At Wagah (see Samjhauta Express) | |
| Punjab | Kartarpur Corridor | Visa-free access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib | |||
| Rajasthan | Munabao | (see Thar Express) |
| Border | State | Land Customs Station | Connecting To (Bangladesh) | Status | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India–Bangladesh | Assam | Mankachar | Rowmari post (Natun Bandar, Rangpur division) | Functional | [26] | |
| Karimganj Steamer and Ferry Station (KSFS) | Zakiganj post (Sylhet division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| Guwahati Steamer Ghat (Dhubri district) | Functional | [26] | ||||
| Dhubri Steamer Ghat | Rowmati (Maymansingh division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| Mahisasan railway station | Shahbazpur (Sylhet division) | Non-functional | [26] | |||
| Golokganj | Sonahaat (Rangpur Division) | Non-functional | [26] | |||
| Silchar Railway Mail Service | Non-functional | Inland LCS (no border crossing) | [26] | |||
| India–Bangladesh | Meghalaya | Baghmara (South Garo Hills) | Bijoyour post | Functional | [26] | |
| Bholaganj | Chatak (Sunamganj division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| Borsara (West Khasi Hills) | Borsara post | Functional | [26] | |||
| Mahendraganj | Bakshiganj | Functional | On NH12 | [26] | ||
| Dalu | Nakugaon post | Functional | On NH217 | [26] | ||
| Shellabazar | Sunamganj (Sylhet division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| Gasuapara | Karoitol (Mymansing division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| Ryngku (East Khasi Hills) | Kalibari (Sonamganj division) | Non-functional | [26] | |||
| Balat (East Khasi Hills) | Dolura (Sylhet division) | Non-functional | [26] | |||
| India–Bangladesh | Tripura | Srimantapur | Bibir Bazar (Comilla division) | Operational | Became operational January 2016 | [27] |
| Dhalaighat | Kumarghat (Sunamganj division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| Khowaighat | Balla (Habiganj division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| Manu | Chatlapur (Sylhet division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| Muhurighat | Belonia (Feni division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| Old Ragnabazar | Betul (Fultali) (Sylhet division) | Functional | [26] | |||
| India–Bangladesh | Mizoram | Kawarpuchiah | Operational | Opened October 2017 by PM Modi | [28] | |
| Demagiri | Rangamati (Sylhet division) | Non-functional | [26] | |||
| India–Pakistan | Rajasthan | Longewala | In Jaisalmer district |
This is incomplete list of designated border markets, also called bazaars and haats, established by the efforts of Ministry of External Affairs. [18]
| State | District | Location | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meghalaya | East Khasi Hills district | Balat | [29] |
| Bholaganj | [29] | ||
| South West Garo Hills district | Kalaichar | [29] | |
| Ryngku | [29] | ||
| West Garo Hills district | Nalikata | [29] | |
| Shibbari | [29] | ||
| Mizoram | Mamit district | Mapara - Longkor | |
| Tuipuibari - Not provided | |||
| Lunglei district | Silsury - Mahmuam | ||
| Nunsuri - Not provided | |||
| Tripura | West Tripura district | Kamalasagar | |
| Boxanagar | |||
| Bamutia | |||
| South Tripura district | Srinagar, Tripura | ||
| Ekimpur | |||
| North Tripura district | Pal Basti (Raghna) | ||
| Hiracherra (Kailasahar) | |||
| Kamalpur, Tripura (Dhalai) |
 | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2021) |
India-Bhutan Border Haat on India-Bhutan border are in operation, such as the Gelephu-Hatisar border market road entry point, [30] Phuntsholing to its west and Samdrup Jongkhar to its east are two other border market road entry points into Bhutan.
India–Myanmar border Haats are. [31] [32]
| State | District | Indian Location | Myanmar Location | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arunachal Pradesh | Changlang district | Pangsau Pass (Nampong) | Pangsau, Kachin State | [31] [32] |
| Chingsa (Khimiyang Circle) | Langhong, Kachin State | [31] [32] | ||
| Makantong (Khimiyang Circle) | Ngaimong, Kachin State | [31] [32] | ||
| Tirap district | Wakka/Pongchao/Lazu | Tirap, Kachin State | [31] [32] | |
| Manipur | Ukhrul district | Kongkan Thana | Aungci (suggested by State Government) | [31] [32] |
| Chandel district | New Somtal | Thenjen, or Khampat | [31] [32] | |
| Churachandpur district | Behiang | Khenman, or Chikha | [31] [32] | |
| Mizoram | Lawngtlai district | Hruitezawl | Varang | [31] [32] |
| Champhai district | Hnahlan | Darkhai | [31] [32] | |
| Vaphai | Leilet | [31] [32] | ||
| Siaha district | Chakhang | Nviaphia | [31] [32] | |
| Nagaland | Tuensang district | Avakhung | Layshi (32 km apart) | [31] [32] |
| Pangsha | Lahe/Hkamti District HQ (60 km apart) | [31] [32] | ||
| Mon district | Chemoho/Longwa | Lahe (60 km apart) | [31] [32] | |
| Phek district | Molhe | Pansat (10 km apart) | [31] [32] |
Pradeep Damodaran's book Borderlands: Travels Across India's Boundaries chronicles all land borders of India. [33] The Bollywood director J. P. Dutta has specialised in making Hindi movies with India's border as a key element of the theme, his movies are Border, Refugee, LOC: Kargil , Paltan, etc. [34]
Media related to International borders of India at Wikimedia Commons
